Water cooler separator body and assembly

ABSTRACT

An assembly for use in a water cooler designed to hold an inverted water bottle, wherein the assembly includes a reservoir having a cylindrically extending side wall, a shoulder located in the side wall, and a bottom having at least one opening therethrough. The assembly also includes a bottle receiver located at least partially within the reservoir and having a mounting flange, a side wall extending down from the mounting flange to support a water bottle, and an opening at the bottom end of the side wall. A separator body is also provided that has a base extending at least partially over the shoulder on the reservoir, and a probe extending generally perpendicular from the base for engaging a cap of a water bottle. The separator body may include a tube extending down from the base, a bottom portion of which is lockingly engaged with a tube extending from the bottom of the reservoir. A seal may be formed between the separator body tube and the reservoir tube, and the reservoir tube may extend around the opening in the bottom of the reservoir. The base of the separator body may include at least one opening communicating the interior of the separator body tube with a top side of the separator body base.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Application Serial Number 200610111646.2 filed Aug. 21, 2006, the complete disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference.

The subject invention relates to a separator body and assembly for use in a water cooler, and in particular, to a separator body having an upper probe portion for engaging a water bottle cap and a lower mounting configuration.

There currently exist various designs of assemblies that can hold a water bottle and engage a cap on the bottle to dispense water from the bottle into a water cooler unit. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,236 (the '236 patent) to Deruntz discloses a dispenser insert having an annular mounting flange and a bowl extending down from the flange. The '236 patent also discloses that the dispenser includes a star-shaped penetrator to puncture the cap of the bottle to allow water to flow into the dispenser. The bowl also has apertures so that water can flow out of the bottom of the dispenser.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,127 (the '127 patent) to Burrows discloses a water cooler for use with bottled water and includes a station housing and a station reservoir. The '127 patent also discloses a receiver assembly for receiving and supporting the water bottle. The receiver assembly comprises a support funnel having a depending outer flange, a probe tube having water flow ports and air vent holes, and an insert tube located within the probe tube. The insert tube includes water flow ports aligned with the ports in the probe tube and slotted recesses aligned with the air vent holes.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,416 to Desrosiers et al. discloses a bottled water dispenser system having a support ring for supporting the water bottle. A support side wall extending from the support ring forms a hollow, cylindrical body having a base. A probe extends up through an aperture in the base. The probe is designed to interlock with an inner cap of the water bottle and force the inner cap from an opening in a main bottle cap so that water can be dispensed. The probe holds the inner cap until the bottle is removed from the water dispenser, whereupon the inner cap is re-engaged with and seals the opening in the main cap.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,167,921 to Busick et al. discloses a mounting adapter and related water cap for a bottled water cooler. The mounting adapter includes an upper mounting flange for supporting the mounting adapter on the cooler, a sleeve segment extending down from the upper mounting flange, a central cup or well extending down from the sleeve, and a bottom wall. An outer tube extends up from an aperture in the bottom wall, and an inner tube is located inside the outer tube. The outer tube includes flow slots, and the inner tube includes flow ports aligned with the flow slots to allow water flowing from the water bottle to flow into and down through the inner tube. An annular flow path is formed between the inner tube and outer tube to allow air to flow up and into the water bottle. The outer tube includes a tip and an undercut recess below the tip to hold the inner cap. The outer tube also reseals the inner cap on the water bottle when the water bottle is removed from the water cooler.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,193,113 to Hidding discloses a dispensing system having a fluted probe and a valved closure. The dispensing system includes a receiver having a supporting upper flange, a larger diameter vertical section extending down from the flange, and a smaller diameter vertical section attached to and extending down from the larger vertical section. A sloped section connects the larger and smaller diameter vertical sections. A support or base is located across the bottom of the smaller vertical section and includes apertures extending therethrough to allow water to flow through the receiver. A probe extends upwardly from the base and adjacent to the apertures and includes fins defining flutes for flow of water and air through the receiver. The probe includes disc-like flanges and a groove to facilitate holding and resealing an inner cap on the cap of the water bottle if the water bottle is removed from the receiver.

U.S. Patent Application No. US 2005/0224133 discloses a receptacle assembly for a bottled water dispenser. In one embodiment, the receptacle includes a bottle support member and an upright side wall connected to the bottle support member. The receptacle also has a bottom wall portion and an elongated piercing probe attached to the bottom wall portion. The probe includes a rounded end portion and a groove located beneath the end portion for releasably holding an inner cap of the water bottle to allow the water bottle to be resealed upon removal from the receptacle. In another embodiment, the piercing probe is molded as a single unitary piece with the receptacle, and openings are provided in the bottom wall portion to allow air and water to flow between the upright side wall portion and a lower tube portion having a lower opening.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the invention, an assembly is provided for use in a water cooler designed to hold an inverted water bottle, wherein the assembly includes a reservoir having a mounting flange, a side wall extending down from the mounting flange, an inwardly extending shoulder in the side wall, and a bottom having an opening therethrough. The assembly also includes a separator body having a base, a probe extending up from the base for engaging a cap of a water bottle, and a tube extending down from the base.

The reservoir includes a bottom and the opening is located in the bottom. The reservoir may include a tube extending down from the opening in the bottom. The tube extending down on the separator body may extend at least partially into the tube on the reservoir bottom. The tube on the reservoir may also include a sealing surface to provide a seal with the tube extending down from the base of the separator body. A locking feature may be located on the inside of the tube on the reservoir that is configured to engage a locking feature on the tube of the separator body.

The locking feature on the tube of the reservoir may include a pair of inwardly extending projections, and the locking feature on the tube of the separator body may include a pair of outwardly extending projections that are configured to fit between the projections on the tube of the reservoir. The locking features on the tube can be engaged by inserting the projections on the tube of the separator body between and beyond the projections on the tube of the reservoir and rotating the separator body.

The assembly may also include a bottle receiver located at least partially within the reservoir and having a mounting flange, a side wall extending down from the mounting flange to support a water bottle, and an opening at a bottom end of the side wall. The side wall of the bottle receiver includes an inclined portion for supporting the bottle and a vertical portion. The bottle receiver may include a base and the opening is through the base. The opening is configured to receive the probe of the separator body. The inclined portion of the side wall may have a funnel-shaped configuration, and the vertical portion of the side wall of the bottle receiver may have a cylindrical configuration.

The base of the separator body may extend at least partially over the shoulder in the side wall of the reservoir. The shoulder may have an annular configuration, and the base of the separator body may be circular and extend generally perpendicular to the probe. The side wall of the reservoir may include an outlet opening above the shoulder. The mounting flanges of the reservoir and the bottle receiver may have an annular configuration, and the side walls of the reservoir may have a cylindrical configuration.

The bottle receiver may include an annular downwardly extending locating flange. The bottle receiver may include outwardly extending projections on the locating flange. The assembly may further include a mounting ring having locking recesses for receiving the projections on the locating flange of the bottle receiver, and the bottle receiver can be rotated and locked into position with respect to the reservoir.

In another embodiment of the invention, an assembly is provided for use in a water cooler designed to hold an inverted water bottle, wherein the assembly includes a reservoir having a cylindrically extending side wall, a bottom at the lower end of the side wall, a base including an opening, and a tube extending down from the opening. A separator body is also provided that has a probe that extends up into the opening of the bottle receiver for engaging a cap of a water bottle. The separator body also has a downwardly extending tube, and a bottom portion of the separator body tube is located within the tube of the reservoir. The assembly may also include a bottle receiver located at least partially within the reservoir, and the bottle receiver has a mounting flange, a side wall extending down from the mounting flange to support a water bottle, and an opening at the bottom of the side wall.

The assembly may include a second opening in the base of the reservoir and a third opening in the side wall of the reservoir. The side wall of the reservoir may have a shoulder, and the third opening may be located above the shoulder. The separator body may include a base, and the base may extend at least partially over the shoulder in the side wall of the reservoir. The shoulder in the side wall of the reservoir may have an annular configuration, and the base of the separator body may have a circular configuration.

The bottle receiver may include a locating flange including locking projections. The locating flange may have an annular configuration and extend in an orientation coincident with an axis of the bottle receiver. The assembly may further include a mounting ring having locking recesses configured to receive the projections on the locating flange of the bottle receiver, and the bottle receiver can be rotated and locked into position with respect to the reservoir.

The separator body tube may include a channel and a seal located in the channel. The seal seats against the sealing surface of the tube in the reservoir. At least one of either the separator body tube or the tube of the reservoir may include projections for locking the separator body to the reservoir. The separator body may be locked into the reservoir by rotating the separator body, and the separator body may include gripping flanges for rotating the separator body. The separator body tube may include outwardly extending projections, and the tube of the reservoir may include mating inwardly extending projections.

Also, an embodiment of the invention includes an assembly for use in a water cooler designed to hold an inverted water bottle, wherein the assembly includes a reservoir having a side wall with an outlet opening located therein and a bottom at the lower end of the side wall that includes two outlet openings. The assembly also has a separator body having an axis, a probe extending along the axis, a radially extending base from which the probe extends, and an axially extending tube extending from an opposite side of the base from the probe. The assembly also may include a bottle receiver located at least partially within the reservoir. The bottle receiver has a mounting flange, a side wall extending down from the mounting flange to support a water bottle, and an opening at the bottom of the side wall.

The side wall of the reservoir may include an annular shoulder, and the base of the separator body may extend at least partially over the shoulder. The outlet opening in the side wall may be located above the shoulder. The reservoir may include a tube extending down from one of the outlet openings, and a bottom portion of the separator body tube may be located in the reservoir tube. The bottom potion of the separator body tube may be releasably locked into the reservoir tube. A seal may be formed between the separator body tube and the reservoir tube.

In another embodiment of the invention, an assembly is provided for use in a water cooler designed to hold an inverted water bottle, wherein the assembly includes a reservoir having a cylindrically extending side wall, a shoulder located in the side wall, and a bottom having at least one opening therethrough. A separator body is also provided that has a base extending at least partially over the shoulder on the reservoir, and a probe extending generally perpendicular from the base for engaging a cap of a water bottle. The assembly may also include a bottle receiver located at least partially within the reservoir. The bottle receiver has a mounting flange, a side wall extending down from the mounting flange to support a water bottle, and an opening at the bottom end of the side wall.

The separator body may include a tube extending down from the base, a bottom portion of which is lockingly engaged with a tube extending from the bottom of the reservoir. A seal may be formed between the separator body tube and the reservoir tube, and the reservoir tube may extend around the opening in the bottom of the reservoir. The base of the separator body may include at least one opening communicating the interior of the separator body tube with a top side of the separator body base.

Also in an embodiment of the invention, a separator body is provided for use in an assembly of a water cooler designed to hold an inverted water bottle, wherein the separator body includes a base and a probe configured to engage a cap on the water bottle. The probe extends from the base along an axis of the separator body. The separator body also has a tube extending along the axis from an opposite side of the base from which the probe extends. The tube includes a locking configuration at a bottom portion thereof.

The locking configuration may include projections extending outwardly from the tube. The base may include openings extending therethrough to provide communication between an interior of the tube and a top side of the base. A seal may be located on the tube in a channel that extends around the outside of the tube. The separator body may further include gripping flanges to facilitate rotational movement around the axis thereof. The separator body may include two gripping flanges extending perpendicular from the base on opposite sides of the probe.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, a separator body is provided for use in an assembly of a water cooler designed to hold an inverted water bottle, wherein the separator body includes a base and a probe for engaging a cap on the water bottle. The probe extends from the base along an axis of the separator body. The separator body also includes a tube extending from an opposite side of the base from which the probe extends, and the tube has a circumferentially extending channel. The channel may extend around the outside of the tub, and a sealing ring may be located in the channel.

The tube may include a locking configuration located at a bottom portion thereof. The locking configuration may include projections extending outwardly from the tube. The separator body may also include at least one opening through the base providing communication between an interior of the tube and a top side of the base. The separator body may further include gripping flanges to facilitate rotational movement of the separator body around the axis. Two gripping flanges may be provided that extend perpendicularly from the base on opposite sides of the probe.

It is also a feature of the invention to provide a reservoir for use in an assembly of a water cooler designed to hold an inverted water bottle, wherein the reservoir includes a mounting flange extending annularly around the top thereof, a side wall extending down from the mounting flange that includes an inwardly extending shoulder and an opening located above the shoulder, and a bottom having at least one opening therethrough.

The reservoir may further include a second opening in the bottom. Also, the reservoir may include a tube extending about the opening and down from the bottom. The reservoir may further include a locking feature and a sealing surface in the tube. The locking feature may include inwardly extending projections.

In another embodiment of the invention, an assembly is provided for use in a water cooler designed to hold an inverted water bottle, wherein the assembly includes a reservoir having a mounting flange, a side wall extending down from the mounting flange and the bottom having at least one opening therethrough. The assembly also includes a bottle receiver located at least partially within the reservoir and having a mounting flange, a side wall extending down from the mounting flange including an angled portion and a vertical portion, and an opening at a bottom end of the side wall. In addition, the assembly includes a separator body having a base, a probe extending up from the base and through the opening in the bottom of the bottle receiver for engaging a cap of a water bottle.

The reservoir in the assembly may include a shoulder in the side wall and an opening above the shoulder. The separator body may include a tube extending down from the base that includes a locking feature, a circumferential channel, and a sealing ring located in the channel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a water cooler having a separator body and assembly in accordance with the subject invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a separator body and assembly;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the water cooler separator body and assembly of FIG. 2 taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 1 as installed in a water cooler and about to receive a bottle of water;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the water cooler separator body and assembly contacting an inner cap of the water bottle during installation;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the water cooler separator body and assembly with a water bottle fully received in the water cooler;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the water cooler separator body;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the water cooler separator body of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the water cooler separator body of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the water cooler separator body of FIG. 6 taken along lines 9-9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the water cooler separator body of FIG. 6 taken along lines 10-10 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the reservoir that is a component of the assembly in FIG. 2;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the bottle retainer that is a component of the assembly in FIG. 2;

FIG. 12A is an enlarged view of a cut-away area from the location indicated in FIG. 12 of the bottle retainer;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of the mounting ring that is a component of the assembly in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a water cooler separator body having a slot in the bottom tube.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the present invention. The exemplification set out herein illustrates embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, which are described below. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. The invention includes any alterations and further modifications in the illustrated devices and described methods and further applications of the principles of the invention, which would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Now referring to FIG. 1, a water cooler is shown, generally indicated as 10. Water cooler 10 includes a cabinet or housing 12 and controls 14 a, 14 b, and 14 c. Housing 12 has a top wall 15 having an opening 15 a therein for receiving water from a water bottle 16. In the embodiment shown, controls 14 a and 14 c are push-button controls for dispensing the water, and 14 b is a slide control for adjusting the temperature of the water dispensed through control 14 c. Water cooler 10 is capable of storing and dispensing water from water bottle 16 at room temperature, at a chilled temperature, or at a heated temperature, as is known. Water bottle 16 includes a neck 17 having an opening, generally indicated as 18, at an end thereof (FIG. 3). Opening 18 is covered by a cap, generally indicated as 19. Cap 19 includes a central tubular section, generally indicated as 20, and a resealable inner cap 22 covering an end of the tube, as is known.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-5, water cooler 10 includes an assembly, generally indicated as 30. Assembly 30 includes a cylindrical reservoir, generally indicated as 32; a bottle retainer, generally indicated as 34; a separator body, generally indicated as 36; and a mounting ring, generally indicated as 38. Reservoir 32 includes a generally annular mounting flange 40, and a generally cylindrical side wall 42 having an upper portion 42 a and a lower portion 42 b, which has a slightly smaller diameter than upper portion 42 a. Reservoir 32 also includes a shoulder or ledge 44, connecting upper portion 42 a and lower portion 42 b, and a bottom 46. Reservoir 32 also has an outlet opening/port 48, in upper side wall portion 42 a for dispensing room temperature water, as is discussed in further detail below. Bottom 46 includes two outlet openings or ports 50 and 52. Outlet opening 50 is for dispensing chilled water, and outlet opening 52 includes a tube 54 extending down from bottom 46 leading to a chamber for heating water, as is discussed in further detail below. Two locking projections or tabs 56 extend inwardly on the interior of tube 54, as best shown in FIG. 11. The projections are configured to lock separator body 36 to the reservoir, as discussed below. Tube 54 also includes a sealing surface 58 on the interior of the tube above projections 56. Reservoir 32 is preferably made from a corrosion-resistant material, such as plastic, and may be formed as a unitary piece by a process, such as injection molding. The reservoir may also be made out of corrosion-resistant metal, such as stainless steel or aluminum.

Bottle retainer 34 includes an annular mounting flange 60 mounted around opening 15 a in top wall 15 of the water cooling housing and a side wall 62, including a funnel-shaped inclined portion 62 a extending down from mounting flange 60 and configured to receive bottle 16, and a vertically oriented cylindrical lower portion 62 b. Bottle retainer 34 also includes a bottom 64 connected to lower side wall portion 62 b and an opening 66 located in the center of bottom 64. Bottle retainer 34 also includes an annular locating flange 68 that extends in a generally vertical orientation. Locating flange 68 includes four equally spaced outwardly extending locking projections 70 (see FIGS. 12 and 12A) for locking the bottle retainer to mounting ring 38. Locating flange 68 also has four gussets 72 located on the opposite side of the ring from locking projections 70 to provide structural support. Bottle retainer 34 is preferably made from a corrosion-resistant material, such as a plastic that may be formed by the injection molding process or may be stamped from a corrosion-resistant metal, such as stainless steel or aluminum.

Now referring to FIGS. 6-10, separator body 36 includes a generally circular base 80, a probe, generally indicated as 82, extending generally perpendicular from base 80 along an axis A of the separator body (FIGS. 9 and 10), and a tube, generally indicated as 84, extending along axis A from the opposite side of base 80 from which probe 82 extends. Separator body 36 also has a pair of gripping members or flanges 86 that extend generally perpendicular from base 80 on either side of probe 82, to provide a location for applying a torsional rotating force to the separator body, as discussed below. Also, on the bottom of base 80, four equally spaced gussets 88 are provided that extend generally perpendicular from base 80 from the same side as tube 84 to provide structural support.

Probe 82 of the separator body includes four flanges 90 arranged in a cruciform configuration centered on axis A and that define channels 92 therebetween. Probe 82 also includes an upper end 94 for engaging inner cap 22 on water bottle 16 and a groove 96 located between upper end 94 and flanges 90 for receiving a lip on the inner cap, as is known.

Tube 84 of separator body 36 includes a cylindrical wall 100 defining an interior space 102. Tube 84 also includes a circumferentially extending channel 104 formed on the outside of wall 100 for receiving a compressible resilient sealing ring 105. Tube 84 also has a pair of outwardly extending locking tabs or projections 106 located below channel 104 and on opposite sides of the tube, as best shown in FIGS. 6 and 9. Also, as best shown in FIGS. 8-10, flanges 90 and channels 92 of probe 82 extend partially into tube 84. In addition, separator body 36 includes four openings 108 extending through base 80 that coincide with channels 92 to provide communication from the interior 102 of tube 84 to the top side of base 80. Separator body 36 is preferably made from a corrosion-resistant material, such as plastic, and may be formed by the injection molding process.

Mounting ring 38 (FIG. 13) has a generally annular configuration and a generally L-shaped cross-section including an upper leg 110 and a downwardly extending leg 112. Mounting ring 38 also includes four equally spaced L-shaped locking recesses 114 located on the inside of leg 112. Locking recesses 114 each have an upper leg 116 open at the top end of the mounting ring, and a lower leg 118 having a generally horizontal orientation. Mounting ring 38 is positioned between mounting flange 60 of bottle retainer 34 and mounting flange 40 of reservoir 32, and the locking recesses 114 are configured to receive locking projections 70 on locating flange 68 of the bottle retainer, as discussed below. It should also be appreciated that, although retainer ring 38 is shown as a separate member, it may also be molded integrally with top wall 15 of housing 12.

To install assembly 30 in water cooler 10, reservoir 32 is placed in the top of cabinet 12 with mounting flange 40 located at the upper end thereof. Mounting ring 38 is located above mounting flange 40 with upper leg 110 extending around opening 15 a in the top wall of the housing, as best shown in FIGS. 3-5. Separator body 36 is installed in the reservoir by inserting the lower portion of tube 84 into tube 54 with probe 82 extending upward in the reservoir, as shown in FIGS. 3-5. To insert tube 84 into tube 54, projections 106 are inserted between and pushed beyond inwardly extending locking projections 56 on the interior of tube 54. When locking projections 106 are inserted in tube 84 past locking projections 56 on tube 54, the separator body is rotated and locked into position by using gripping flanges 86 to provide leverage for rotational movement. The separator body is turned until locking projections 106 are located below locking projections 56, which locks the separator body into place in the reservoir. In addition, when the separator body is locked into the reservoir, a fluid seal is formed between tube 84 and tube 54, as sealing ring 105 is compressed between channel 104 and sealing surface 58. Also, when the separator body is locked to the reservoir, base 80 will at least partially overlie shoulder 44, but a small gap is formed between the base and shoulder so that water can flow therebetween. When the separator body is installed, the base creates two chambers: a lower chamber 120 and an upper chamber 122, in the reservoir (FIG. 3). Lower chamber 120 is defined by lower side wall portion 42 b of the reservoir, base 80 of separator body 36, and bottom 46 of the reservoir, and upper chamber 122 is defined by upper side wall portion 42 a of the reservoir, base 80 of separator body 36, and bottle retainer 34. Also, when the separator body is assembled thusly, outlet opening 48 will be above base 80 of the separator body, providing an outlet to upper chamber 122.

Next, bottle retainer 34 is installed on assembly 30 by lowering the bottle retainer so that the upper end 94 of probe 82 goes through opening 66 in bottom 64 and continuing to lower the bottle retainer until the probe is approximately half way up lower side wall portion 62 b of the bottle retainer, as shown in FIG. 3. To lock the bottle retainer in place, locking projections 70 on locating flange 68 are positioned for receipt in respective upper legs 116 of locking recesses 114. Locking projections 70 are then pushed down into the lower leg 118 of recesses 114, wherein the bottle retainer can be rotated to lock it into position with respect to the mounting ring. When assembled thusly, reservoir 32, bottle retainer 34, separator body 36, and mounting ring 38 are all centered and aligned along the common axis A of the separator body.

To operate water cooler 10, a water bottle 16 is inverted and installed in the sequence shown in FIGS. 3-5. First, any label or protective seal covering tube 20 in cap 19 is removed and the bottle positioned with neck 17 and cap 19 in lower side wall portion 62 b of the bottle retainer (FIG. 3). As the bottle is lowered, probe 82 enters tube 20 of cap 19 and the upper end 94 of probe 82 engages inner cap 22, as shown in FIG. 4. Also, a lip along the bottom inner edge of inner cap 22 is received in groove 96 of probe 82, which holds the inner cap on the probe, as is known. When the bottle is completely in place and resting on and supported by bottle retainer 34, the upper end 94 of probe 82 has pushed inner cap 22 away from tube 20, as shown in FIG. 5, allowing water to flow from the bottle through channels 92 of the probe into reservoir 32.

In the reservoir, water will flow through openings 108 in base 80 into and down through tube 84 and into a fluid compartment (not shown) for heating water to be dispensed by control 14 a on water cooler 10. When the hot water fluid compartment is filled, tube 84 fills to the top and additional water flowing from water bottle 16 flows around the edges of base 80 and between the base and shoulder 44 into lower chamber 120. As chamber 120 is filled, the water level rises into chamber 122. The water level continues to rise until it meets the bottom of neck 17 on water bottle 16, wherein further air exchange with the water in the bottle is precluded. Water in chamber 120 is chilled by a known refrigeration system and can be dispensed through outlet opening 50. Water in upper chamber 122 remains at approximately room temperature and can be dispensed through outlet opening 48. Also, water cooler 10 may be equipped with a mixing valve to mix the water exiting outlet opening 48 and outlet opening 50 or 52 so that the water is dispensed at a desired temperature.

When it is desired to remove water bottle 16, the lip on inner cap 22 in groove 96 of probe 82 will hold the inner cap on the probe until the inner cap is reinserted in and sealed in tube 20, as water bottle 16 is lifted away from assembly 10, as is known in the art. This prevents any water remaining in water bottle 16 from accidentally leaking out.

Referring now to FIG. 14, an alternate embodiment of the separator body is shown, generally indicated as 136. Separator body 136 is similar in all aspects to separator body 36 except that separator body 136 includes a slotted opening 183 in a tube 184 extending from base 80. With opening 183, when the hot water chamber is filled, water can flow through tube 184 directly into chamber 120 without having to go between the edge of base 80 and shoulder 44. In all other respects, separator body 136 is assembled and operated as separator body 36.

While the invention has been taught with specific reference to these embodiments, one skilled in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the probe may have a tubular configuration with water and vent ports for water and air to flow therein as opposed to the cruciform configuration shown in the figures. In addition, more or fewer gripping flanges may be provided on the separator body, and the flanges may be formed in any suitable configuration that will assist in rotating the separator body. The gripping flanges may also be provided on the probe. Also, one or the other of tube 84 and tube 54 may contain recesses to receive mating projections, like the mounting ring, as opposed to providing locking projections on both tubes. Furthermore, the configuration of the recesses in the mounting ring may be varied, or the mounting ring may include locking projections to lock with projections 70. Alternately, the recesses may be included on the locating flange, and the projections may be included on the mounting ring. The described embodiments are to be considered, therefore, in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. As such, the scope of the invention is indicated by the following claims rather than by the description. 

1. An assembly for use in a water cooler designed to hold an inverted water bottle, the assembly including: a reservoir having a mounting flange, a side wall extending down from the mounting flange, an inwardly extending shoulder in the side wall, and a bottom having an opening therethrough; and a separator body having a base, a probe extending up from the base for engaging a cap of a water bottle, and a tube extending down from the base.
 2. The assembly for use in a water cooler as set forth in claim 1, wherein the reservoir includes a bottom, and the opening is located in the bottom.
 3. The assembly for use in a water cooler as set forth in claim 2, wherein the reservoir includes a tube extending down from the opening in the bottom .
 4. The assembly for use in a water cooler as set forth in claim 3, wherein the tube extending down on the separator body extends at least partially into the tube on the reservoir bottom.
 5. The assembly for use in a water cooler as set forth in claim 4, wherein the tube on the reservoir includes a sealing surface configured to seal with the tube extending down from the base of the separator body.
 6. The assembly for use in a water cooler as set forth in claim 5, wherein a locking feature is located on the inside of the tube in the reservoir configured to engage a locking feature on the tube of the separator body.
 7. The assembly for use in a water cooler as set forth in claim 6, wherein the locking feature on the tube of the reservoir includes a pair of inwardly extending projections, and the locking feature on the tube of the separator body includes a pair of outwardly extending projections that are configured to fit between the projections on the tube of the reservoir.
 8. The assembly for use in a water cooler as set forth in claim 7, wherein the locking features on the tube are engaged by inserting the projections on the tube of the separator body beyond the projections on the tube of the reservoir and rotating the separator body.
 9. The assembly for use in a water cooler as set forth in claim 1, further including a bottle receiver located at least partially within the reservoir and having a mounting flange, a side wall extending down from the mounting flange including an inclined portion and a vertical portion, and an opening at a bottom end of the side wall.
 10. The assembly for use in a water cooler as set forth in claim 9, wherein the bottle receiver includes a base, and the opening is through the base and configured to receive the probe of the separator body.
 11. The assembly for use in a water cooler as set forth in claim 9, wherein the inclined portion of the side wall of the bottle receiver has a funnel-shaped configuration, and the vertical portion of the side wall of the bottle receiver has a cylindrical configuration.
 12. The assembly for use in a water cooler as set forth in claim 1, wherein the base of the separator body extends at least partially over the shoulder in the side wall of the reservoir.
 13. The assembly for use in a water cooler as set forth in claim 12, wherein the shoulder has an annular configuration, and the base is circular and extends generally perpendicular to the probe.
 14. The assembly for use in a water cooler as set forth in claim 12, wherein the side wall of the reservoir includes an outlet opening above the shoulder.
 15. The assembly for use in a water cooler as set forth in claim 1, wherein the mounting flanges of the reservoir and the bottle receiver have an annular configuration, and the side walls of the reservoir have a cylindrical configuration.
 16. The assembly for use in a water cooler as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bottle receiver includes an annular downwardly extending locating flange.
 17. The assembly for use in a water cooler as set forth in claim 16, wherein the bottle receiver includes outwardly extending projections on the locating flange.
 18. The assembly for use in a water cooler as set forth in claim 17, further including a mounting ring having locking recesses for receiving the projections on the locating flange of the bottle receiver, and the bottle receiver is rotated to a locked position with respect the reservoir.
 19. A separator body for use in an assembly of a water cooler designed to hold an inverted water bottle, the separator body including: a base; a probe configured to engage a cap on the water bottle and extending from the base along an axis of the separator body; and a tube extending along the axis of the separator body from an opposite side of the base from which the probe extends, the tube including a locking configuration at the bottom portion thereof.
 20. An assembly for use in a water cooler designed to hold an inverted water bottle, the assembly including: a reservoir having a mounting flange, a side wall extending down from the mounting flange, and a bottom having at least one opening therethrough; a bottle receiver located at least partially within the reservoir and having a mounting flange, a side wall extending down from the mounting flange including an inclined portion and a vertical portion, and an opening at a bottom end of the side wall; and a separator body having a base, a probe extending up from the base and through the opening in the bottom of the bottle receiver for engaging a cap of a water bottle. 